Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a county, city and county, or special hospital authority described in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 101850) or Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 101852) of Part 4 of Division 101 of the Health and Safety Code may operate one or more mobile units to provide prescription medication within its jurisdiction to those individuals without fixed addresses, individuals living in county-owned or city-and-county-owned or operated housing facilities, and those enrolled in Medi-Cal plans operated by the county or a city and county, a health district, or a joint powers authority pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. The mobile unit shall be operated as an extension of a pharmacy license held by the county, city and county, or special hospital authority. The pharmacist-in-charge shall determine the number of mobile units that are appropriate for a particular pharmacy license. The mobile unit may dispense prescription medication pursuant to a valid prescription, including a prescription of a physician who practices in the mobile unit, if the county, city and county, or special hospital authority meets all of the following requirements:

(a) A licensed pharmacist is on the premises and the mobile unit is under the control and management of a pharmacist while prescription medications are being dispensed.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 4110.5

  • board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
  • City: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 18
  • County: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 17
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • license: means license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.7

(b) All activities of the pharmacist, including the furnishing of medication by the pharmacist, are consistent with Article 3 (commencing with Section 4050).

(c) If a physician is practicing in the mobile unit, all prescribing by the physician meets the requirements of the Medical Practice Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000)).

(d) (1) The mobile unit does not carry or dispense controlled substances.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to Schedule III, Schedule IV, or Schedule V controlled substances approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Any controlled substance for the treatment of opioid use disorder carried or dispensed in accordance with this paragraph shall be carried in reasonable quantities based on prescription volume and stored securely in the mobile pharmacy unit.

(e) Dangerous drugs shall not be left in the mobile unit during the hours that the mobile unit is not in operation.

(f) A county, city and county, or special hospital authority shall notify the board of its intention to operate a mobile unit as soon as possible, and no later than five business days after commencing operation of a mobile unit. A county, city and county, or special hospital authority shall also notify the board of its intention to discontinue operation of a mobile unit as soon as possible, and at least one business day before discontinuing operation of a mobile unit.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 539, Sec. 1. (AB 663) Effective January 1, 2024.)